Selective mechanical pencil



June 26, 1934. L, L HER-rz 1,964,154

SELECTIVE MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Sept. 9, 1933 INVENTOR Y ba/5 /J/E/z 944K; y ovini A TRWEYS Patented June 25, i934 TTES PATENT @FME Louis Lausen Hertz,

Shaker Heights, Ohio Application September 9, 1933, Serial No. 688,809

Claims.

This invention relates to a refillable mechanical pencil of the lead propelling and retraoting type and particularly to a magazine pencil in which are contained a plurality of different colored leads 5V which may be selectively propelled for use or retracted.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to greatly simplify the structure by I which selective propulsion and retraction of leads -may be eifected whereby a pencil that is strong and durable and light in weight and simple in operation may be provided.

Another object of the present invention resides *in the particular chuck mechanism by means of -which each lead may be selectively engaged and disengaged directly by the chuck for propulsion and retraction merely by manual rotation of a knob on the exterior of the pencil.

* @ther objects and advantages will become a-p- ZOparent from the following speciiication wherein reference is made to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a selective magazine pencil incorporating the features of the present invention;

Fig. is a sectional view of the pencil taken on A a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View 'of the pencil magazine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figs. 2

and 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 5 5 in Figs. 2

and 3 Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on a plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevation of the chuck;

8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the chuck taken on a plane indicated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the chuck illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. l0 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of a modified form of the magazine of the pencil;

Figs. l1 and l2 are enlarged cross sectional views taken on planes indicated by the lines 11--11 and 12-12 respectively of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the cooperation between the chuck and chamber of the magazine of Fig. 10 and is taken on a plane indicated by the line 13-13 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sec- (Cl. 1Z0-14) tional View taken on a plane indicated by the line 14s-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. l5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view .showing the relation between the chuck and a different part of the chamber of the magazine illustrated in Fig. 10 and is taken on a plane indicated by the line 15-15 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Referring to the drawing, the pencil comprises a hollow cylindrical barrel or shell 1, closed at one end by a suitable plug 2 which may be squeeze fitted securely into the butt end of the barrel. In the opposite or writing end of the barrel is fixed a plug 3, the plug 3 being tapped axially from its outwardly disposed end and internally threaded to receive the threaded end of a shaft 4 which protrudes beyond the end of the shell 1 toward the writing end of the pencil. Mounted for rotation on the shaft 4 is a lead carrying magazine 5 have a plurality of circumferentially spaced lead receiving chambers 6, these chambers being spaced equidistant from the axis of the magazine 5 and preferably parallel thereto.

The shaft 4 protrudes beyond the magazine 5 toward the writing end and at its outermost end is externally threaded to engage the writing tip 7 of the pencil. The shaft 4 may be of slightly larger diameter intermediate its threaded ends so as to provide shoulders at the respective ends for engagement with the adjacent end surfaces of the plug 3 and tip 7 thus holding the piug 3 and tip 7 firmly in xed spaced relation to each other. This spaced relation is such that the magazine 5 is under slight frictional resistance at the ends so that it may be turned readily but yet will remain in proper position. However, as in the present form wherein space is limited, instead of the shoulders, the tap in the plug 3 and tip 7 may be of proper depth to engage the ends of the shaft 4 when the tip and plug 3 are in the proper spaced relation axially of the pencil for snugly engaging the ends of the magazine.

The tip 7 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore or lead discharge passage 10 which is disposed eccentrically of the axis of the 'pencil and shaft 4. Both the chambers 6 and the passage 10 are parallel to each other and to the axis of the pencil and are so positioned 105 that as the magazine 5 is rotated about its axis, the respective chambers thereof successively align with the passage l0. The solid end surfaces of the tip 'i and the plug 3 engaging the respective ends of the magazine and the ends 110 of the chambers 6 except the chamber which at any time is in alignment with the passage 10.

Within the plug 3 is a chuck passage 11 aligned with the discharge passage 10. Mounted within the body 1 is a propelling and retracting means which comprises a rod 1 which extends into the passage 11 and is adapted when moved in one direction, to travel through the passage 11, the alinged one of the chambers 6 ci the magazine 5, and into the passage 1G of the tip 7. For moving the rod 12 inwardly and outwardly relative to the body 1, a follower 13, having an internal dog 14, is secured to the innermost end of the rod 12. A screw is provided within the pencil body and is rotatably received at one end in a suitable bore in the plug 3 and at the other or butt end of the body, extends through a suitable bore in the plug 2. The dog 14 of the follower is in engagement with the thread of the screw so that, upon opposite rotations of the screw relative to the follower', the follower and rod 12 are advanced and retracted longitudinally of the pencil. The screw 15 protrudes through the plug 2 at one end and is iiattened at its outermost and protruding end, as indicated at 18, so as to be received in a suitable opening 19 in a cap or knob 2G. The knob 20 is provided with a suitable side wall and end wall so as to be rotatably received on the end of the shell 1. Consequently, upon rotation of the knob 20 in opposite directions, the rod l2 is advanced toward the tip 7 and retracted selectively when the follower' is prevented from rotating with the screw 15.

In order to prevent the follower 13 from rotating with the screw 15, and also more eiiectively to guide the rod and chuck, a guide 21 is secured in the plug 2 and longitudinally of the body to the plug 3. This guide may be in the form of a channel open on the side toward the screw 15 so that the rod may lie therein and move longitudinally therealong. The side walls of the guide are sufficiently high to engage the bent over end or projection 21a of the rod 12, thus holding the follower in fixed circumferential position relative to the body.

Referring new to the manner in which the rod 12 engages and disengages each of the leads selectively, that end of the rod which operates in the chuck passage 11 is provided with a chuck 22 and the passage 11 is configured in such relation to the chuck that it will permit passage of the chuck itself in either direction through the plug 3 but will prevent relative passage of any pencil lead carried by the chuck.

Referring to Fig. the passage 11 may be semicircular in cross section and. if desired, may have small grooves 23 continuing the outer limit of the passage 11 to substantially three quarters of a circle. The chuck 22 is made preferably of spring metal and in the form of a cylinder open or slit longitudinally, so as to be radially expansible when the lead is forced axially into its open end and thereby being operable to receive and yieldably embrace the lead. In the form illusstrated, it is such as to fit snugly within the passage 11 lying against the outer wall thereof and having its wall portions, which are adjacent the slit, extending into the grooves 23. The rod 12 is of sufliciently small diameter to pass longitudinally through the open portion of the passage 11 and consequently the chuck and rod may pass through the passage 11 freely. The grooves 23, however, define a tongue or shoulder 24 extending part way into the passage 11 so that the entire opening of the passage 11 is so small,

or so shaped, that it will not permit passage of the lead.

On the contrary, however, any piece of lead L carried in the chuck is engaged by the shoulder 24 when the chuck is withdrawn inwardly of the pencil through the passage l1 and thereby prevented from further inward movement and the chuck is withdrawn therefrom. The shoulder 24 lies in the plane of the outermost end of the plug 3 so that when the lead is so disengaged its end rests on the outermost surface of the plug 3 so that the lead is retained in a chamber 6 of the magazine. The magazine then can be freely rotated.

Referring to Figs. 1U to 16, a slightly modified form of chuck and magazine is shown. In this form, the magazine 5 is provided with chambers 6' each of which is slightly larger toward the innermost end and tapers outwardly slightly toward the plug 3 so as to provide a cam means, as indicated at 25. The remainder of the charnber 6 is of sufficient size to snugly receive the lead when enclosed with the chuck `so that the same may move freely therethrough.

The chuck 22' is made of spring metal and sprung out sufficiently so as to snugly fill the portion 25 of the chamber 6. vWhen the chuck is in this chamber, if the pencil is disposed in upright position on its butt end, the lead will drop freely into the chuck. If then the chuck is advanced toward the writing tip of the pencil, it is squeezed more rmly against the lead as it passes past the cam means provided by the tapering diameter portion of the chamber 6', thus providing a chuck which ordinarily more freely directly engages and disengages the lead, as illustrated in Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive.

It is apparent therefore, that upon rotation of the cap or knob 2 in one direction, the chuck will he advanced and grip the lead and propel the same with the chuck. When it is desired to retract the lead, the knob 2O is rotated in the opposite direction, thus drawing the lead into the one of chambers 6 in which it was originally disposed and disengaging it therein when the chuck is fully withdrawn into the chuck passage 11 whereafter the magazine may be rotated to place a different lead in operating position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A mechanical pencil comprising a barrel having a longitudinal passage in one end, a tip having a lead discharge passage open at both ends and aligned with the barrel passage, a body having a plurality of lead carrying chambers disposed between the barrel and tip, said chambers being open at both ends and movable selectively into and out from alignment with said passages, each of said chambers forming a continuation of the discharge passage when aligned therewith, means blocking both ends of the chambers which are out of alignment with said discharge passage, a radially expansible and contractible chuck within the barrel, said chuck being open at the end toward the discharge passage and being operable to receive and yieldably embrace a lead forced axially into said open end, means operable to propel the chuck through the barrel passage and into the chamber aligned therewith and to retract the chuck from said aligned chamber into said barrel passage, whereby said chuck may receive and embrace the lead in said chamber and propel and retract the same through the discharge passage and aligned chamber, and means operable consequent upon retraction oi the chuck from the aligned chamber to disengage the chuck from said lead and retain the lead in said aligned chamber.

2. In a mechanical pencil comprising a barrel, a tip havinT a lead discharge passage open at both ends, a body having a plurality of lead carrying chambers disposed between the barrel and tip, each open at both ends and selectively alignable with the discharge passage, and means blocking the ends of such of said chambers as are out of alignment with the discharge passage, a chuck passage in the said means which block those ends oi the chambers adjacent the barrel, said chuck passage communicating with and being aligned with the chamber which is in alignment with the discharge passage, a shoulder partly obstructing said open end of said chuck passage, a chuck reciprocable in said chuck passage and operable to pass said shoulder and move to and fro longitudinally of the aligned chamber, said chuck being open at the end toward the discharge passage and resiliently radially expansible and contractible whereby it may receive` and yieldably embrace lead forced axially thereinto, means to propel the chuck longitudinally ci the aligned chamber tcward the discharge passage and to retract the chuck past the shoulder into the chuck passage, whereby lead in the aligned chamber may be propelled, and also retracted into said aligned chamber and therein disengaged from the chuck by striking said shoulder as the chuck is retracted therebeyond.

3. A mechanical pencil comprising a barrel having a longitudinal passage in one end, a tip having a lead discharge passage a body having open at both ends and alignedwith the barrel passage, a plurality of lead carrying chambers disposed between the ba rel and tip, said chambers being open at both ends and movable selectively into and out from alignment with said passages, each of said chambers forming a continuation of the discharge passage when aligned therewith, means blocking both ends oi the chambers which are out or alignment with said discharge passage, a radially expansible and contractible chuck within the barrel, said chuck being open at the end toward the discharge passage and of sulcient size to freely receive and embrace a lead when moved axially thereinto, means operable to propel the chuck through the barrel passage and into the chamber aligned therewith and to retract the chuck from said aligned chamber into said barrel passage, cam means in the respective chambers near the barrel ends, each oi" said cam means being operable to engage and radially stress and contract the chuck firmly about the lead in the aligned charnber with which associated consequent upon movement of the chuck a predetermined distance on the propelling stroke and to disengage and permit return of the cam to iully open position consequent upon predetermined retraction thereof, each of said chambers and a portion of the discharge passage adjacent the chambers loosely fitting about the leads to permit free longitudinal movement thereof.

Il. In a mechanical pencil comprising a barrel, a tip having a lead discharge passage open at both ends, a body having a plurality of lead carrying chambers disposed between the barrel and tip, each open at both ends and selectively alignable with the discharge passage, and means blocking the ends of such of said chambers as are out of alignment with the discharge passage, a chuck passage in the said means which block those ends of the chambers adjacent the barrel, said chuck passage communicating with and being aligned with the chamber which is in alignment with the discharge passage, a shoulder' partly obstructing said open end of said chuck passage, a chuck reciprocable in said chuck passage and operable to pass said shoulder and move to and iro longitudinally of the aligned chamber, said chuck being open at the end toward the discharge passage and resiliently radially expansible and contractible whereby it may receive and yieldably embrace lead forced axially thereinto, means to propel the chuck longitudinally of the aligned chamber t0- ward the discharge passage and to retract the chuck past the shoulder into the chuck passage, whereby lead in the aligned chamber may be propelled, and also retracted into said aligned chamber and therein disengaged from the chuck by striking said shoulder as the chuck is retracted therebeyond, a portion of each of the chambers of the magazine being contracted from the inlet toward the discharge end of the pencil whereby the chuck engages the walls of the chamber in which operated and is contracted radially thereby.

5. A mechanical pencil comprising a barrel, a tip, a magazine between the barrel and tip coaxial with the barrel and rotatable about its axis relative to the barrel and tip, said tip having a lead discharge passage parallel to the axis of the magazine and offset therefrom, said magazine having a plurality of lead carrying chambers parallel to the magazine axis and oiset therefrom a proper distance to be moved into alignment with the discharge passage when the magazine is rotated. each of said chambers being open at both ends, said tip having an end wall blocking the adjacent ends of the chambers which are out of alignment with the discharge passage, a hat end wall in the barrel blocking the same ones of said chambers and having a passage opening through the end wall and aligned with the discharge passage, a chuck movable longitudinally of the barrel and aligned passages and chamber. means in the body operable from the outside to propel and retract said chuck, said chuck being open at the end toward the discharge passage and radially yieldable whereby it may receive and rmly embrace a piece of lead when forced axially thereagainst,

and a tongue in the barrel blocking the opening through the said end wall in a manner permitting relative passage of the chuck therethrough and blocking passage of the lead therethrough.

LOUIS LAUSEN HERTZ. 

